Atwater joins CNN in jumping the gun on health care ruling

With CNN and others initially reporting this morning that the federal health care law’s individual mandate had been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater was one of the first elected officials in the state to issue a statement.

A minute later, Atwater was one of the first to issue a retraction.

At 10:10 a.m., Atwater’s office issued a four-paragraph statement commending the justices for striking down the mandate. At 10:11 a.m., Atwater’s office issued a “recall” notice.

Follow the press releases after the jump….

Statement from CFO Jeff Atwater’s office, 10:10 a.m:

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling the individual mandate of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.

“Today’s landmark ruling by the Supreme Court upholds two distinctly American principles outlined in our Constitution—individual freedom and limited government.

“The Supreme Court carefully considered the constitutionality and appropriate legal arguments associated with this overreaching piece of legislation. Ultimately, the rejection of the individual mandate is more than a legal determination; it is an upholding of the American way of governing and the ideals of individual freedom and liberty—the fundamental principles that shaped our nation and will continue to guide us into the future.

“The magnitude of such government intrusion would have been a significant departure from the limited government envisioned in our founding documents. Government interference in the marketplace would have had a devastating impact on free market competitive forces, consumer choice, and individual investment—undermining the American economy and further increasing dependence on entitlements.

“I am proud of the role Florida has played in defending our Constitution, protecting the individual freedoms of the American people and affirming the limited role of government our founders designed.”

Statement from CFO Jeff Atwater’s office, 10:11 a.m:

CFO Atwater’s Press Office would like to recall the message, “Statement from Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater Regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision to Strike Down the Health Care Individual Mandate “.